Dear Dr. Fox: We have a 9-year-old Shih Tzu who gets really ugly come sundown. If he is awakened from a sound sleep (at any time), he will bite hard on whatever he can find -- including hands and arms. He growls and snarls until he can be calmed down.
We have had him since he was 6 weeks old. He also is afraid of loud noises. He sleeps in our bed and when he is up there he gets testy.
He does not enjoy being around little children and has been kicked a couple of times. Otherwise, he is very friendly and runs to meet company on their arrival. He lies on my lap when we are watching TV or reading the newspaper. Sometimes, at night, if I pick him up, hold him and pet him for a while before putting him on the bed, he seems OK. However, if awakened: Katy, bar the door.
We cannot remember when this first started. Do you have any idea why this is happening? What can we do to correct it? -- C.M., Granbury, Texas
Dear C.M.: Your dog has developed a conditioned emotional reaction that is timed with altered brain function associated with the post-sleep arousal mechanism. In other words, his brain chemistry is off kilter, possibly associated with low serotonin levels.
You need to discuss this with a veterinarian who could prescribe and monitor various supplements and herbs, notably melatonin, L-tryptophan and valerian. In the interim, you may want to try putting a drop or two of lavender (L. angustifolia) on a bandana around his neck before he naps. This essential oil can have a dramatic calming effect on dogs.
Dear Dr. Fox: I have a dear friend who has entrusted me with the care of his cat for the past several months. I read in one of your articles once that cats should not be vegetarians and need meat in their diet. You said it's dangerous to cats' kidneys to be fed dry food alone.
Along with the vegetable dry food the cat has been eating exclusively, I have added Fancy Feast wet food. My friend will be returning soon, and I fear he will throw a fit when I tell him I've added meat/wet food to his cat's diet.
Could you repeat the article I'm referring to? Do you have any advice on how I tell my friend what I've done without losing his respect or trust? -- P.C., West Palm Beach, Fla.
Dear P.C.: Your friend may be temporarily upset, but with a little understanding, he should thank you.
There are both ethical and health reasons for people to become vegetarians, and for those who eat meat and poultry products to select only free-range and organically certified. Vegans do not eat eggs or dairy products, while ethical vegetarians may include eggs and dairy products from free-range, organically fed animals.
Neither vegans nor vegetarians eat seafood (except seaweed and sea minerals). Cats need some fish oil, but fish should not be their dietary staple for various health reasons. But all cats should eat animal products (meat and internal organs) on a daily basis -- ideally, raw or lightly cooked and in a balanced-formula diet.
Have your friend visit my Web site www.twobitdog. com/DrFox and learn some facts about cats -- one being that they are "obligate" carnivores.
Dear Dr. Fox: I am 80 years old and have been helping animals, birds, etc., for 25 years (mostly cats now). I have had more than my share of drop-offs, requests for help, etc. I'm hoping you can help me with this problem:
An abandoned male cat came here a few months ago and all my other cats are deathly afraid of him -- he fights with them. I had him neutered, but that didn't help.
A long time ago, I talked to a girl who said she had a cat like this and her vet said she should try female birth-control pills for cats. I don't know if she followed through or not. Do you have any suggestions? -- P.C., Grantsburg, Wis.
Dear P.C.: A generation ago, veterinarians were successful prescribing the sex hormone progesterone to cats like yours. This medication seems to have a tranquilizing effect.
Long-term therapy was avoided because of potentially harmful side effects. Neutering a tomcat later in life does not guarantee any significant behavioral changes because the longer they remain intact, the more hard-wired some behaviors become.
Modern remedies include psychotropic drugs like Clomipramine, herbs like valerian, nutraceuticals like L-tryptophan and melantonin and the feline pheromone Feliway.
I would advise feeding the aggressive cat a raw or lightly cooked, turkey-based organic diet like Darwin's, and give the same to all cats, if possible, rotating every 10 to 14 days to a chicken-based, balanced whole-food diet.
Check my Web site for a review of raw and canned cat foods and acceptable dry varieties. If these possible remedies do not work, I urge you to find a good home for this overly assertive cat, unless you can keep him in one area of the house with cats he gets along with.
To order Dr. Michael W. Fox's newsletter, Animal Doctor, on providing the best care for your animal companion, send a check or money order for $2 and a long, self-addressed stamped envelope to Newsletter, P.O. Box 167, Wickliffe, OH 44092. Send your questions to Dr. Fox in care of this newspaper. The volume of mail received prohibits personal replies, but questions and comments of general interest will be discussed in future columns. Visit Dr. Fox's Web site at www.twobitdog.com/DrFox.
